WX Cet and the WZ Sge stars

Abstract

Low-resolution optical spectroscopy and visual, UBVRI and high-speed photometry of WX Cet during its 1989 June outburst are presented. The photometry showed that the outburst lasted at least three weeks. Superhumps with a period of ∼ 80 min were discovered from high-speed photometry obtained during six successive days, although aliasing ambiguities prevented a precise determination of the superhump period. Nevertheless, this constrains the orbital period of WX Cet to be slightly less than ∼ 80 min. The spectra showed broad, shallow Balmer absorption lines super-imposed on a blue continuum.